Ladder



J. F SOLTER AND W. GINDLER.

LADDER.

APPLICAHON FILED JUNE 5.1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Patented 11m; 15,1921.

J. F. SOLTER AND W. GINDLER.

LADDER. APPLICAT ON FILED JUNE 5. |9 |9 Patented Mar. 15, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. F. SOLTER AND W. GINDLER.

LADDER APPLICATlON FILED JUNE 5,1919.

1 ,37 1,449. 7 Patented Mar. 15, 1921 a SHEETS-SHEET a.

Q m R N N N w [720672207 81 whiz]? SOZZ QWX NORRIS PETERS, |NC. LITHK). WASHINGTON D C UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. SOLTER AND WILLIAM GINDLER, 0F COLLINSVILLE, ILLINOIS.

LADDER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN F. SoL'rnn and WILLIAM GINDLER, citizens of the United States, residing at Collinsville, in the county of Madison and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inLadders, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in ladders and more particularly to step ladders of the extension type.

The object of our invention is to provide a four piece extension step ladder which can be used as an inverted V-shaped ladder, as an ordinary straight ladder by disassembling same, or as a ladder having two supporting members one of which is shorter than the other to permit one supporting member of the ladder to stand on a higher level than the other supporting member.

A further object of the invention is to provide a ladder which can be quickly con verted from one form or size of ladder into any size or form.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a practical and easily actuated locking means for retaining the extension sections of the ladder in their adjusted positions.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter more fully described and finally pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like characters of reference denote similar parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1, is a side view of our improved ladder with the extensions closed.

Fig. 2, is a front elevation of the ladder looking in direction of arrow 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3, is a side elevation of the ladder in a collapsed or closed position.

Fig. 4, is a longitudinal sectional view of the ladder in its collapsed or folded position.

Fig. 5, is a rear elevation of the frontladder section, looking in direction of the arrow 5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6, is a front elevation of the rear ladder section, looking in direction of the arrow 6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7, is a side elevation of the ladder Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 5,

Patented Mar. 15, 1921.

1919. Serial No. 301,991.

with the front section extended to rest upon a lower level than the back ladder section.

Fig. 8, is a front elevation of the front ladder section showing the extension member of the ladder extended to one of its several extended positions.

In carrying out the aim of our present invention, we employ two ladder sections, a front ladder section A, and a rear ladder section B, the front ladder section carrying an extension ladder section C and the rear ladder section carrying an extension ladder section D. The extension ladder section C has telescopic or sliding engagement with the front ladder section A, while the ex tension ladder section D has telescopic or sliding engagement with the rear ladder section B.

The front ladder section A, comprises two side rails or legs 1 suitably spaced apart and united by means of the cross-pieces 2 spaced along the front faces of the side rails l and the cross-pieces 3 spaced along the rear faces of the side rails l. The upper ends of the side rails 1 are positioned closer together than the lower ends of side rails 1, so as to provide a tapered front ladder section A. The inner face of each side rail 1, is provided with a wedge shaped member 4; extending downwardly a suitable distance from the top of each side rail 1, to provide the two parallel side guide walls 5.

The extension ladder section C is slidably mounted between the side rails 1 and their uniting cross-pieces 2 and 3, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The extension ladder section C consists of the two parallel side rails 6, which rails are united in spaced relation by means of the suitably spaced foot boards or steps 7, as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

The upper face of each cross-piece 2 is beveled, as at 8, to lie in a plane with the top face of the steps or foot-boards 7, as clearly shown in Fig. 4.

The locking means for holding the extension ladder section C, in its normal as well as any of its extended positions, consists of a lever 9 pivoted, as at 10 to one of the rear crosspieces 3, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. A pair of locking rods 11 are connected at their one end to the head of the lever 9, on opposite sides of the pivot 10. The rods extend outwardly therefrom, pass throughthe bearings or guides 12, are then bent at a right angle to provide the arms shown in Fig. 5, so that the extension laddersection C may be adjusted or extended to various elevatlons and securely locked in the adjusted or extended position, as is manifest.

The rear ladder section B comprises two side rails or legs 17 suitably spaced apart and united by means of cross-pieces 18 spaced along the front faces of the side rails 17, and the cross-pieces 19 spaced along the rear faces of the side rails 17. The upper ends of the side rails 17, like side rails 1, are positioned closer together than the lower ends of the side rails 17, so as to provide a tapered rear ladder section B. The inner face of each side rail 17, is provided'with a wedge shaped member 20 extending downwardly a suitable distance from the top of each side rail 17, to provide the two parallel side guide walls 21.

The extension ladder section D for the rear ladder section B is slidably mounted between the side rails 17 and their uniting cross-pieces 18 and 19, as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 6. The extension ladder section D consists of the two parallel side rails 22, which rails are united in suitable spaced relation by means of the cross-pieces 23 interposed between the rails 17 as clearly shown in Fig. 4.

The locking means for holding the extension ladder section D, in its normal, as well as any of its extended positions, consists 01 a lever 24, pivoted as at 25 to one of the front cross-pieces 18 of the rear ladder section C, as clearly shown in Fig. 6. A pair of locking-rods 26 are connected to the head of the lever 24, on opposite sides of the pivot 25. The rods 26 extend outwardly from the head of lever 24, pass through suitable bearings or guides 27, are then bent at a right angle to provide the arms 28 which in turn are finally bent inwardly at a right angle at their free ends to provide the locking ends 29, which ends 29 pass through opposed and alined openings 30 in the side rails 17 of the rear ladder section B and the wedge plates 20 thereof and the registering openings 31 in the side rails 2201? the extension ladder section D. The side rails 22 of the extension ladder section D are provided with a plurality of suitably spaced sets of the lock receiving openings 31, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, so that the extension ladder section D may be adjusted or extended to 3 various elevations and securely locked in the zgdjusted or extended position, as is maniest.

The levers 9 and 24 are each held in their normally closed position by means of the coiled springs 32 and 33, respectively.

The upper end of each of the side rails 22 of the extension ladder section D is provided with a pair of suitable cars 34 which are fixed at one end thereto. The ears 34 each extend a suitable distance beyond the front face of the side rails 22 and are each provided with an opening 35, which opening 35 is adapted to register with openings 36 in the side rails 6 of the extension ladder section C to receive a suitable hinge-pin 37 having a suitable hand-grip 38 formed at one end thereof, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, of the drawings.

The operation of the ladder is as follows:

When it is desired to move the ladder extension 0 from one position to another, to either lengthen or shorten the front ladder section A, the operator merely pulls lever 9 away from the spring 32 which causes the withdrawal of the locking arms 14 from the opening 16 thereby permitting the ladder extension section C to be freely moved endwise in either direction. After this operation the two sections A and C are again locked, as is manifest, to hold the extension C from movement in either direction.

When it is desired to either lengthen or shorten the rear ladder section B, the lever 24 is manipulated the same as lever 9, thereby withdrawing the locking arms 29 from the openings 31 of the extension section D to permit free movement in either direction of the extension D with relation to the rear ladder section B, as is manifest.

From the foregoing description, it will be readily understood that the ladder sections A and B may be readily adjusted to various lengths, so as to provide a ladder which may be set to meet various requirements expected of ladders. The ladder can be used in many difierent ways, as is manifest. It 'can be used as a double ladder, or by removing the pin 37, as two independent ladders of the extension type, and by removing either extension from its holder or supporting section, several single ladders can be provided, if desired.

The many advantages and uses of a ladder as hereindescribed, will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art to which it appertains, hence a lengthy statement of the many advantages and uses to which the ladder may be put is thought unnecessary.

We do not desire to be understood as limiting ourselves to the details of construc tion and arrangement as herein described and, illustrated, as it is manifest that variations and modifications may be made in the features of construction and arrangement in the adaptation of the device to various conditions of use without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention and the terms of the following claims, hence we Wish it to be understood that we reserve the right to make any such changes or modifications as may fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims when fairly construed.

What we claim is:

1. A ladder of the class described comprising a ladder holder section consisting of a pair of side rails united by means of front and rear cross-pieces, said ladder holder section being wider at its lower end than at its upper end, a wedge plate fixed to the inner face of each side rail of the ladder holder section to provide two opposed parallel. guide faces, an extension ladder section comprising side rails and connecting steps slidably mounted between the two parallel guide faces of the side rails and the uniting cross-pieces of the ladder holder section, locking arms passing transversely through the side rails of the ladder holder section and the. wedge plates fixed thereto and entering openings in the side rails of the extension ladder section to lock the two ladder sections together and hold the extension ladder section in adjusted positions with relation to the ladder holder section, a manually actuated lever pivotally connected to one of the rear cross-pieces of the ladder holder section, connections uniting the looking arms above and below the fulcrum of said lever for imparting movement to the locking arms when the lever is moved in either direction and a spring for normally holding the locking arms in their innermost positions.

2. A ladder of the class described, comprising a front ladder section consisting of a pair of side rails united by means of front cross-pieces and rear cross-pieces, said ladder section being wider at the bottom than at he top, a wedge shaped plate fixed to the inner face of each side rail near the top thereof to provide two parallel gulde faces, an extension ladder section comprising side rails and steps slidably mounted between F the two parallel guide faces of the side rails and the uniting cross-pieces, locking arms adapted to pass through the side rails and wedge shaped plates of the front ladder section and enter openings arranged in the wider at the bottom than at the top, a wedge shaped plate fixed to the inner face of each side rail of the rear ladder section near the top thereof to provide two parallel guidefaces, an extension ladder section comprising suitably united side rails slidably mounted between the two parallel guide faces of the side rails of the rear ladder section, and the uniting cross-pieces, locking arms adapted to pass through the side rails and wedge shaped plates of the rear ladder section and enter openings arranged in the side rails of the rear extension ladder sec tion to lock the extension ladder section at any desired elevation with relation to the rear ladder section, means for withdrawing the locking arms from the openings in the side rails of the rear ladder extension to permit movement thereof, and means for hingedly uniting the upper ends of the front and rear ladder extensions to permit the front and rear ladder sections to be spread as desired.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto signed the specification.

JOHN F. SOLTER. WILLIAM GINDLER. 

